Topline: Jamie Varley will spend the rest of his life in prison for the abuse and murder of infant Preston Davey.
Published: June 20, 2026 6:00 am ET
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Left: Preston Davey, Right: Jamie Varley mugshot (via Lancashire Constabulary)
PRESTON, UK — A British court sentenced a former secondary school teacher to life in prison on June 18 for sexually abusing and murdering a 13-month-old boy he was adopting with his partner.
As per the BBC, Jamie Varley, 37, received a whole-life order from Preston Crown Court, meaning he will never be eligible for release from prison. His partner, 32-year-old John McGowan-Fazakerley, received a 25-year prison sentence for allowing the death of a child, child cruelty, and sexual assault.
The convictions follow an eight-week trial that detailed four months of physical and sexual abuse against the infant, Preston Davey. The child died in a hospital on July 27, 2023, after suffering a cardiac arrest caused by upper airways obstruction, according to a postmortem examination.
Prosecutor Peter Wright said during the trial that Varley told police the baby accidentally drowned in a bath. Medical evidence refuted that claim, showing the child had dry hair, wore a diaper, and hadn’t swallowed water, according to court documents.
Investigators found about 40 traumatic injuries on the baby’s body, including 30 external bruises. Forensic experts testified that bruises on the child’s head were consistent with a person gripping his head, according to the prosecution.
Data recovered from Varley’s mobile phone included 13 counts of taking indecent photos or videos of a child. Police records show that Varley shared at least one video with McGowan-Fazakerley through a social media application.
The abuse began shortly after an adoption panel approved the couple to care for Preston in March 2023, according to police records. The baby had spent his first nine months with foster parents Sandra and Paul Cooper, who described him as healthy and happy.
Varley took a year off work from his position as a high school head of year to care for the child. Within weeks, Varley sent text messages to friends stating that he found the baby annoying and was struggling to cope, according to police reports.
Medical records show the couple took Preston to the hospital three times in the final weeks of his life, once for a broken arm. Safeguarding authorities did not intervene during those visits, according to court testimony.
According to The Guardian, Children’s Commissioner for England Rachel De Souza called the case a “massive safeguarding failure.” De Souza said a social worker saw the child 20 days before his death and questioned whether Varley’s professional status as a teacher prevented deeper scrutiny.
A child safeguarding practice review by Oldham Council has resumed following the conclusion of the criminal trial, according to local officials. The independent review will examine how multiple welfare agencies handled Preston’s case before his death.
In a victim impact statement read by a barrister, the child’s biological mother, Sarah Davey, said the system and the foster parents trusted the couple. Davey said that trust was completely broken and the death should never have been allowed to happen.
Foster parent Sandra Cooper testified that she had a gut feeling something was wrong after the adoption because the couple made planned visits difficult. Cooper said she and her husband now feel anxious about children leaving their care to live with strangers.
Varley will serve his sentence at HMP Wakefield, a high-security prison that holds a high proportion of individuals convicted of child abuse, according to prison records. McGowan-Fazakerley must serve at least two-thirds of his 25-year sentence before he can be considered for parole.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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UK Teacher Gets Life Sentence for Murder of 13‑Month‑Old Adopted Son
Jamie Varley will spend the rest of his life in prison for the abuse and murder of infant Preston Davey.
By Kate Byrd
Published: June 20, 2026 6:00 am ET
Left: Preston Davey, Right: Jamie Varley mugshot (via Lancashire Constabulary)
PRESTON, UK — A British court sentenced a former secondary school teacher to life in prison on June 18 for sexually abusing and murdering a 13-month-old boy he was adopting with his partner.
As per the BBC, Jamie Varley, 37, received a whole-life order from Preston Crown Court, meaning he will never be eligible for release from prison. His partner, 32-year-old John McGowan-Fazakerley, received a 25-year prison sentence for allowing the death of a child, child cruelty, and sexual assault.
The convictions follow an eight-week trial that detailed four months of physical and sexual abuse against the infant, Preston Davey. The child died in a hospital on July 27, 2023, after suffering a cardiac arrest caused by upper airways obstruction, according to a postmortem examination.
Prosecutor Peter Wright said during the trial that Varley told police the baby accidentally drowned in a bath. Medical evidence refuted that claim, showing the child had dry hair, wore a diaper, and hadn’t swallowed water, according to court documents.
Investigators found about 40 traumatic injuries on the baby’s body, including 30 external bruises. Forensic experts testified that bruises on the child’s head were consistent with a person gripping his head, according to the prosecution.
Data recovered from Varley’s mobile phone included 13 counts of taking indecent photos or videos of a child. Police records show that Varley shared at least one video with McGowan-Fazakerley through a social media application.
The abuse began shortly after an adoption panel approved the couple to care for Preston in March 2023, according to police records. The baby had spent his first nine months with foster parents Sandra and Paul Cooper, who described him as healthy and happy.
Varley took a year off work from his position as a high school head of year to care for the child. Within weeks, Varley sent text messages to friends stating that he found the baby annoying and was struggling to cope, according to police reports.
Medical records show the couple took Preston to the hospital three times in the final weeks of his life, once for a broken arm. Safeguarding authorities did not intervene during those visits, according to court testimony.
According to The Guardian, Children’s Commissioner for England Rachel De Souza called the case a “massive safeguarding failure.” De Souza said a social worker saw the child 20 days before his death and questioned whether Varley’s professional status as a teacher prevented deeper scrutiny.
A child safeguarding practice review by Oldham Council has resumed following the conclusion of the criminal trial, according to local officials. The independent review will examine how multiple welfare agencies handled Preston’s case before his death.
In a victim impact statement read by a barrister, the child’s biological mother, Sarah Davey, said the system and the foster parents trusted the couple. Davey said that trust was completely broken and the death should never have been allowed to happen.
Foster parent Sandra Cooper testified that she had a gut feeling something was wrong after the adoption because the couple made planned visits difficult. Cooper said she and her husband now feel anxious about children leaving their care to live with strangers.
Varley will serve his sentence at HMP Wakefield, a high-security prison that holds a high proportion of individuals convicted of child abuse, according to prison records. McGowan-Fazakerley must serve at least two-thirds of his 25-year sentence before he can be considered for parole.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
UK Teacher Gets Life Sentence for Murder of 13‑Month‑Old Adopted Son
Jamie Varley will spend the rest of his life in prison for the abuse and murder of infant Preston Davey.
By Kate Byrd
Published: June 20, 2026 6:00 am ET
Left: Preston Davey, Right: Jamie Varley mugshot (via Lancashire Constabulary)
PRESTON, UK — A British court sentenced a former secondary school teacher to life in prison on June 18 for sexually abusing and murdering a 13-month-old boy he was adopting with his partner.
As per the BBC, Jamie Varley, 37, received a whole-life order from Preston Crown Court, meaning he will never be eligible for release from prison. His partner, 32-year-old John McGowan-Fazakerley, received a 25-year prison sentence for allowing the death of a child, child cruelty, and sexual assault.
The convictions follow an eight-week trial that detailed four months of physical and sexual abuse against the infant, Preston Davey. The child died in a hospital on July 27, 2023, after suffering a cardiac arrest caused by upper airways obstruction, according to a postmortem examination.
Prosecutor Peter Wright said during the trial that Varley told police the baby accidentally drowned in a bath. Medical evidence refuted that claim, showing the child had dry hair, wore a diaper, and hadn’t swallowed water, according to court documents.
Investigators found about 40 traumatic injuries on the baby’s body, including 30 external bruises. Forensic experts testified that bruises on the child’s head were consistent with a person gripping his head, according to the prosecution.
Data recovered from Varley’s mobile phone included 13 counts of taking indecent photos or videos of a child. Police records show that Varley shared at least one video with McGowan-Fazakerley through a social media application.
The abuse began shortly after an adoption panel approved the couple to care for Preston in March 2023, according to police records. The baby had spent his first nine months with foster parents Sandra and Paul Cooper, who described him as healthy and happy.
Varley took a year off work from his position as a high school head of year to care for the child. Within weeks, Varley sent text messages to friends stating that he found the baby annoying and was struggling to cope, according to police reports.
Medical records show the couple took Preston to the hospital three times in the final weeks of his life, once for a broken arm. Safeguarding authorities did not intervene during those visits, according to court testimony.
According to The Guardian, Children’s Commissioner for England Rachel De Souza called the case a “massive safeguarding failure.” De Souza said a social worker saw the child 20 days before his death and questioned whether Varley’s professional status as a teacher prevented deeper scrutiny.
A child safeguarding practice review by Oldham Council has resumed following the conclusion of the criminal trial, according to local officials. The independent review will examine how multiple welfare agencies handled Preston’s case before his death.
In a victim impact statement read by a barrister, the child’s biological mother, Sarah Davey, said the system and the foster parents trusted the couple. Davey said that trust was completely broken and the death should never have been allowed to happen.
Foster parent Sandra Cooper testified that she had a gut feeling something was wrong after the adoption because the couple made planned visits difficult. Cooper said she and her husband now feel anxious about children leaving their care to live with strangers.
Varley will serve his sentence at HMP Wakefield, a high-security prison that holds a high proportion of individuals convicted of child abuse, according to prison records. McGowan-Fazakerley must serve at least two-thirds of his 25-year sentence before he can be considered for parole.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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